Fish Finder For Kayak

[J Francho]

Different tech features have their own value to individual users.  Having both a bass boat and kayak with SI/DI capable units, I don't use the SI as much on my bass boat, simply because I'm going too fast moving from spot to spot.  It's when I'm in the kayak I notice more when moving from spot to spot, and often find new spots.  To your point, I'm picking apart the area more by using the kayak.  If it isn't as valuable to you or anyone else, matter little.  We're just relaying our personal experiences to the OP, who can then form their own opinion.

[Firstoutfisher]

Done a lot of research and think I may end up getting a garmin echomap if they go on steep sale this black friday like last year. Now I just need to figure out a mounting solution for transducer and finder that will work for my yak. 

[schplurg]

Echomap is good and I got the 6 inch for $300 on sale. My 6 inch screen is perfect for my almost 54 year old eyes. I've only used it a few times but I mainly use the split screen with the regular ol' colorized fishfinder (not down imaging) on one side and GPS and contour map on the other.

 

I have a high seat and the unit doesn't get in the way rail mounted. Batteries are in my crate behind the seat. I have all my junk mounted on the right side so that I can land fish, or climb into the yak, even from the dock, without obstructions.

 

My ducer is mounted on a homemade aluminum mount on the right side rail for now. All you need is a drill and a vice to make the bends.

[king fisher]

I have an echomap plus on my Hobie.   I can't imagine fishing without it.  Mine has a six inch screen and does not have side view.  My next one will have a larger screen, not sure about side view. 

[Firstoutfisher]

Anyone here have experience with mounting to inflatables?

20 hours ago, king fisher said:

I have an echomap plus on my Hobie.   I can't imagine fishing without it.  Mine has a six inch screen and does not have side view.  My next one will have a larger screen, not sure about side view. 

Sweet looking rig. The mapping is my biggest draw to garmin think I’m going to go for SI. 

[flyfisher]

Go with the largest screen you can afford and doesn't interfere with you too much up front.  SI is a must and a total game changer for kayak fisherman.  Once I learned how to read it well, it has saved me a lot of wasted paddling to go check out an area.  

[OldManLure]

On 10/5/2021 at 11:27 AM, michaelb said:

I have been kayak fishing for a long time but don't have a fish finder. How deep are you going to be such that having a fish finder will really matter finding and locating structure? I find the space on the front of my boat to be precious, and fish finders are bulky and do get in the way. If you are standing, you have room below you, but if you have to sit and fish, at least for me, anything that gets in the way of working the rod side to side is in the way (I do have a rod holder up front, but I have the option to remove that or move it).

 

My other issue is running a 12v battery and having to deal with that onboard. There are some portable lithium options if you want to spend the money. I have a hummingbird 5 si I could mount on my kayak if I could get over these issues (of space and battery). Plus drilling into the boat if I want to store the battery inside. Running the transducer over the side is not that big of a deal using the various mounts shown here, but it is another thing in the way and so I have wondered about mounting that off the back of the boat or far to the rear (but that means running cable or drilling holes).

 

There is the option for a FF that runs on AA batteries, including hawkeye. I don't have one and not saying that these are that useful, and would mainly show depth which is the most important thing, but wonder if something smaller and simpler like this would work for me. I have looked at the deeper and the other iPhone connected options, but running my phone and seeing that screen on the kayak also has been hard to get right (I do run marine charts on my iPhone and do mount that on the boat).

 

https://hawkeyeelectronics.com/collections/fishtrax-series

I have 2 different size sit-ins that I fish different stretches of the river.  There is enough flat water between faster stretches that I believed a fish finder could be helpful, but I wasn’t about to sacrifice space for everything required for the more popular FFs.

I ran across and purchased a Hawkeye Fishtrax 1c.  It is perfect for what I wanted.  It fits in a case about the same size as my GoPro, uses AA batteries, the suction cup eliminates the need for cumbersome mounts (the floating transducer is clever) and can easily be switched from one kayak to the other.  And it has done its job.  I have found holes and deep runs that I likely would have never known existed, and lshowed the fish they held.  It was money well spent.

[Smalls]

On 10/7/2021 at 4:11 PM, Firstoutfisher said:

Anyone here have experience with mounting to inflatables

https://railblazausa.com/product/railblaza-ribport-base-with-3m-backing/?attribute_pa_color=gray&gclid=CjwKCAjw5c6LBhBdEiwAP9ejG6SV-fO9iO-SqdHxw806brcSWD3zaRGdx8xb0kfJDmFu96YuP72xURoCxfQQAvD_BwE

 

They have an adhesive on the back, just stick em on.